Once you find a pair of monthly colored contacts you love, it is easy to focus on how they work with today's makeup or how natural they look—and forget that the few minutes after you take them out can shape how they feel the next time you wear them.
The good news is that caring for monthly lenses does not have to feel complicated. A few simple habits cover the essentials: wash and dry your hands, clean the lenses, store them in fresh compatible solution for the full disinfection time, and replace them on schedule. Once it becomes part of your evening routine, it usually takes only a few minutes.
If rubbing lenses by hand feels like a chore, the moody TimeCapsule Sonic Lens Cleaner uses high-frequency vibration to help with the mechanical cleaning step. The cleaner and your lens solution still have different jobs: the device helps clean the lens surface, while compatible solution and the full soaking time provide disinfection. Below, we will walk through the complete routine and the small shortcuts that are better avoided.
What does “monthly” actually mean?
A monthly colored contact is a reusable lens with a replacement schedule of approximately one month after opening, as directed by the product labeling and your eye-care professional. It does not mean 30 separate wears.
If you open a pair, wear it twice, and then leave it in its case, the replacement clock does not pause. The lens has still been opened, handled, exposed to tears, and placed through repeated storage cycles. Write the opening date on the lens case or set a phone reminder as soon as you open the blister.
The replacement date is also a maximum, not a promise that every lens will remain suitable until that date. A torn, contaminated, cloudy, or persistently uncomfortable lens should be discarded early.
What you need before you start
Keep the routine simple and use products intended for your exact type of soft lens:
- soap and clean running water for your hands;
- a clean, lint-free towel;
- fresh contact lens solution that is compatible with the lens material;
- a clean contact lens case;
- your current glasses as a backup;
- optionally, a contact lens cleaning device that is compatible with the lens and solution.
Do not substitute tap water, bottled water, distilled water, saliva, homemade saline, eye drops, or the liquid left in an opened blister. Saline and contact-lens rewetting drops may have specific rinsing or lubricating uses, but they do not disinfect reusable lenses.
The after-every-wear routine
1. Wash and completely dry your hands
Wash with soap before touching the lens, solution bottle, or inside of the case. Rinse off the soap and dry your hands with a clean, lint-free towel.
Avoid oily or lotion-rich soaps immediately before handling lenses because residue can transfer to the lens surface. Use the pads of your fingers rather than your fingernails.
2. Remove and inspect one lens at a time
Start with the same eye each time so you do not mix up prescriptions. Check the lens under good light for a tear, nick, folded edge, discoloration, unusual cloudiness, or stuck-on debris.
Discard a damaged lens. Cleaning cannot repair a tear or restore a deformed edge.
3. Clean the lens
Follow the cleaning method specified by your lens, solution, and cleaning-device instructions.
For a conventional multipurpose-solution routine, place the lens in your clean palm, apply fresh solution, gently rub it with the pad of a finger for the time on the solution label, and rinse with more fresh solution. The American Optometric Association recommends a rub-and-rinse step for soft lenses used with multipurpose solution because it helps remove deposits and microorganisms.[1]
If you use a sonic cleaner, follow the device-specific process described below. Do not assume that running a cleaning cycle also completes chemical disinfection.
4. Fill a clean case with entirely fresh solution
Empty any used solution first. Never add fresh solution to yesterday’s liquid. This practice, called “topping off,” dilutes the disinfecting system and can reduce its effectiveness.
Fill each well with enough fresh solution to completely cover the lens. Keep the bottle tip from touching your hands, the lens, the case, or the counter.
5. Soak for the full labeled disinfection time
Cleaning and disinfecting are related but different:
- Cleaning loosens and removes makeup, tear-film deposits, debris, and some microorganisms from the lens surface.
- Disinfection uses a validated care system and enough contact time to reduce harmful microorganisms before the next wear.
The required time varies by product. Follow the solution label rather than using a universal number from a blog or social video. Do not reinsert a reusable lens immediately after a quick rinse when the care system requires a longer soak.
6. Care for the case the next morning
After inserting the lenses, discard the used solution. Rub and rinse the empty case with fresh contact lens solution, wipe away excess liquid with a clean tissue if directed, and leave the case open and upside down on a fresh tissue to air-dry.
Keep it away from the toilet, sink splash zone, and steamy bathroom surfaces. Replace it at least as often as your solution manufacturer or eye-care professional directs; the CDC advises replacing a case at least every three months.[2]
7. Repeat the complete routine every time
Consistency matters more than an occasional “deep clean.” A lens that was worn for only a short time still needs the full care process before it is stored and worn again.
Where a sonic lens cleaner fits into the routine
A sonic cleaner provides controlled movement in fresh solution to help loosen surface residue. It is best understood as a mechanical cleaning accessory, not a complete lens-care system.
The moody TimeCapsule Sonic Lens Cleaner uses high-frequency vibration inside a soft silicone chamber. Its current product instructions show:
- one press for a three-minute quick-clean cycle;
- two presses for a six-minute cleaning cycle;
- a soft silicone chamber designed for contact lenses;
- Type-C charging and a compact travel-ready format.
We call the device sonic because that is the product’s specified name and mechanism. “Ultrasonic” refers to a defined frequency range; unless a device publishes and validates its operating frequency, the terms should not be treated as interchangeable.
How to use a sonic cleaner safely
- Wash and dry your hands.
- Inspect the lens and the cleaner chamber. Do not use a damaged lens or a visibly dirty device.
- Place the lenses in the correct sides of the clean chamber.
- Add the amount and type of fresh, compatible lens solution stated in the device instructions.
- Select the three- or six-minute cycle according to the product instructions.
- After the cycle, follow any required rinse step.
- Transfer the lenses to a clean case with completely fresh disinfecting solution and complete the full label-directed soak, unless the exact device-and-solution instructions explicitly validate the chamber for that purpose.
- Empty and clean the device chamber as instructed, then allow it to dry before its next use.
Do not fill the cleaner with tap water or rely on vibration alone to disinfect the lenses. Current medical guidance centers on label-directed cleaning followed by compatible chemical disinfection; publicly available clinical evidence for modern consumer sonic cleaners remains limited and highly device-specific.[1,2] A performance claim for one device should not be transferred automatically to another.
For that reason, the safest role for a sonic cleaner is to make a consistent mechanical cleaning step easier while preserving the validated chemical disinfection process.
Which contact lens solution should you use?
Use a care system recommended for your lens material and wearing needs. Products that look similar may serve different purposes.
| Product type | What it can do | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Multipurpose solution | Depending on its label, it may clean, rinse, disinfect, condition, and store soft lenses | Follow its rub, rinse, and minimum soak directions; use fresh solution every time |
| Hydrogen peroxide system | Cleans and disinfects through a system that neutralizes peroxide | Use only its special neutralizing case and finish the entire labeled cycle |
| Sterile saline | Rinses when a care system specifically calls for it | Does not disinfect and is not a substitute for storage/disinfecting solution |
| Rewetting drops | Lubricate the eye during lens wear when labeled for contacts | Do not clean, disinfect, or store lenses |
The moodyPlus Omni Multi-Purpose Solution 60 ml is a compact multipurpose option. Before pairing it with a monthly colored lens or a sonic cleaner, confirm that the product label lists the intended cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting, and storage uses and that it is compatible with that lens material. Follow the bottle’s exact directions and discard date after opening.
Hydrogen peroxide requires special care. Unneutralized peroxide can sting, burn, irritate, or damage the eye. The FDA advises using only the case supplied with the peroxide system and waiting for the full neutralization cycle before inserting the lenses.[3] Do not put a peroxide system into a sonic cleaner unless the instructions for both products explicitly approve that combination.
Five mistakes that can undo a good cleaning routine
Letting lenses touch water
Remove monthly contacts before showering, swimming, using a hot tub, or washing your face in a way that may flood the eyes. Water can introduce microorganisms, including Acanthamoeba, and neither a later rinse nor a sonic cycle makes water exposure harmless.
If a reusable lens has contacted nonsterile water, remove it. Follow the advice supplied for that lens and contact your eye-care professional if you are unsure whether it should be discarded.
Sleeping or napping in ordinary monthly colored contacts
“Monthly” describes replacement frequency, not permission to sleep in the lens. Unless the exact lens has been prescribed for overnight wear, remove it before sleeping or napping.
Reusing or topping off solution
Used solution is not a refillable bath. Empty it completely and start with fresh product every time.
Using the same case indefinitely
Cases develop scratches, deposits, and microbial contamination even when they look acceptable. Recent studies continue to find lens cases among the most frequently contaminated items in reusable-lens care.[4,5]
Treating discomfort as something to push through
Do not keep wearing a lens because it is still inside its replacement window. Remove it if it becomes painful, unusually scratchy, persistently dry, cloudy, or difficult to see through. Inspect and clean it only if the situation and product instructions make reuse appropriate; otherwise, replace it.
Monthly colored contacts and makeup
Insert clean lenses before applying eye makeup and remove them before taking makeup off. This reduces the chance of transferring oils, pigment, remover, glitter, or mascara fibers to a reusable lens.
Keep eyeliner away from the inner eyelid margin, avoid applying loose glitter close to the eye, and replace eye makeup according to its hygiene guidance. If makeup gets on a lens, remove it rather than trying to blink through the irritation.
A sonic cleaner may help loosen daily surface residue, but it does not make a heavily contaminated or damaged lens safe to keep.
When should you discard a monthly lens early?
Discard the lens before its scheduled replacement date if:
- it has a tear, nick, warped edge, or permanent crease;
- it remains cloudy after the appropriate cleaning routine;
- deposits cannot be removed;
- it dried out and its instructions do not provide a validated recovery process;
- it was stored in an unknown liquid or an unclean case;
- it was exposed to nonsterile water and the applicable guidance calls for disposal;
- it repeatedly causes discomfort even after correct cleaning and inspection.
Replace both lenses on their own schedules and never share colored contacts, including zero-power cosmetic lenses.
When to stop wearing lenses and seek care
Remove your lenses and contact an eye-care professional promptly if you develop persistent redness, pain, discharge, swelling, light sensitivity, or a change in vision. Keep backup glasses available so you never feel pressured to reinsert an uncomfortable lens.
Do not use a cleaner, solution, or eye drops to mask symptoms while continuing to wear the lens. Cleaning products maintain lenses; they do not diagnose or treat an eye condition.
A monthly routine you can actually remember
Use this short version every night:
- Wash and dry.
- Remove and inspect.
- Clean by the label-directed rub-and-rinse method, with an optional compatible sonic-cleaning step.
- Disinfect and store in completely fresh solution for the full required time.
- Clean and air-dry the case after the lenses go back on your eyes.
- Replace on schedule from the date the blister was opened.
The best lens-care routine is not the one with the most products. It is the one that completes every required step, every time.
Frequently asked questions
Do colored monthly contacts need a special cleaning solution?
Not solely because they are colored. Use a solution that is compatible with the exact soft-lens material and approved for the required cleaning and disinfection tasks. Follow the lens, solution, and eye-care-provider instructions.
Can a sonic contact lens cleaner replace rubbing?
It can automate part of the mechanical cleaning process, but whether the manual rub step may be omitted depends on the validated instructions for the exact lens, solution, and device. It does not replace chemical disinfection or the required soak.
Is a sonic cleaner the same as an ultrasonic cleaner?
Not necessarily. “Sonic” describes cleaning through sound or vibration. “Ultrasonic” means the operating frequency is above the upper range of human hearing. Use the term stated and supported by the device manufacturer rather than assuming they are identical.
Can I use saline in a sonic lens cleaner?
Only if the device and lens instructions explicitly allow it for the cleaning step. Saline does not disinfect reusable lenses, so a separate approved disinfection and storage process would still be required.
Can I use a sonic cleaner on daily colored contacts?
No. Daily disposable lenses are worn once and discarded after removal. They should not be cleaned, stored, or reused.
How often should I change the solution in my lens case?
Use entirely fresh disinfecting solution every time you store the lenses. Do not top off or reuse old solution. For lenses left unworn in a closed case, follow the specific solution label’s maximum storage interval and re-disinfection directions.
Do monthly contacts last for 30 wears?
No. Follow the lens’s labeled replacement schedule. Monthly lenses are generally replaced about one month after opening, even if they were worn only occasionally.
References
- American Optometric Association. Contact Lens Care.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing Eye Infections When Wearing Contacts. Updated 2025.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Hydrogen Peroxide Solution. Updated 2023.
- Beshtawi IM, et al. Compliance of Soft Contact Lens Care and Bacterial Contamination Among University Students in Palestine. Clinical Ophthalmology. 2022. PubMed.
- Kirkliauskienė A, et al. Microbial Contamination in Contact Lenses, Lens Care Solutions, and Accessories Among Asymptomatic Soft Contact Lens Users. 2024. PubMed.